子育て

• Reading: こそだて
• Romaji: kosodate
• Kanji breakdown: 子 (ko) — child, offspring; 育 (soda/iku) — raise, grow, nurture
• Pronunciation: /ko.so.da.te/

Meaning

Child rearing; raising children; parenting. The process and experience of bringing up children.

A noun and suru-verb that covers the full spectrum of parenting, from infancy through adolescence. Broader and more colloquial than 育児 (ikuji, which focuses on infant care). Common in everyday conversation and media: 子育て支援 (kosodate shien, childcare support), 子育て世代 (kosodate sedai, parenting generation). A central topic in Japanese social policy discussions about declining birth rates.

Examples

1. 子育てしながら働くのは本当に大変だ。 Balancing work and raising children is truly tough.
2. 市の子育て支援センターに相談した。 I consulted the city's childcare support center.
3. 子育ての悩みをママ友と共有している。 I share my parenting worries with my mom friends.

Usage Guide

Context: family, social policy, daily life

Tone: warm

Origin & History

Compound of 子 (ko, child) + 育て (sodate, raising, from 育てる to raise/bring up). A native Japanese word meaning literally 'raising a child.'

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal